Middleton Library serves as a place for many students and faculty to study, do research or work on projects. But other, less-academic activities may be taking place between the aisles and around the stacks.
LSUPD arrested Robert Pfantz, 4105 Cypress St., Zachary, La., on peeping Tom charges Oct. 8 after a library patron complained that someone was looking at men through a hole in a men’s bathroom wall.
LSUPD also has responded to other, similar complaints this semester.
LSUPD Capt. Mark Shaw said two other peeping Tom incidents were reported on Sept. 11 and Oct. 12.
Shaw said the Sept. 11 incident occurred on the third floor and the Oct. 12 incident occurred in the fourth floor men’s restroom.
In addition, Shaw said LSUPD officers responded to a Sept. 15 complaint on the first floor of a black male who appeared to be disabled grabbing another man by the arm and attempting to pull him into a bathroom stall.
Despite these occurrences, Shaw said he does not think the library is a particular problem area.
“We have a couple of areas where this behavior appears to be problematic,” Shaw said.
Shaw would not identify the other problem areas on campus.
Library Dean Jennifer Cargill said she did not know of any incidents other than those reported to LSUPD.
Cargill said she thought that any secluded areas on campus could have problems.
Student workers on the third and fourth floors of Middleton said they could not comment on the issue.
However, Shaw said more complaints have developed this semester than in the past.
“It’s the first time in a while we’ve seen a number of complaints,” Shaw said.
Shaw encouraged library patrons to report any type of incidents to LSUPD.
Shaw said while he does not want LSUPD officers to be a disruptive presence in the library, he does want patrons to report any activity that makes them uncomfortable.
“We want users to feel comfortable and use the facility as it is intended,” Shaw said.